4-6% of children in Northern Ireland are born with prominent or deformed ears and another 2% develop problems within the first six months of birth. At Kingsbridge Hospital our Consultants can offer a non-surgical, pain free solution for your child’s ear deformity, preventing the need for surgery in later life.
Ear Correction for Adults and Children – A Simple, Safe and Effective Procedure
One of the most common complaints we hear at the Kingsbridge North West Hospital is “my ears stick out” or “my ears are too big”. The good news is that many people, including adults and children, have had this problem corrected easily with our highly effective ear correction procedure, or to use its medical name, Otoplasty.
Ears are naturally prominent features of the body, but sometimes their shape, size and positioning can have a negative effect on how we feel. Children can be subjected to teasing, and in adulthood, we find ingenious ways to cover up our ears, or to make them less noticeable. No matter what your age, protruding ears can have an impact on your quality of life, and that is exactly what our ear correction procedure is designed to solve.
How Ear Correction Procedures Solve the Problem
In the majority of cases, pinning the ears back alongside the head solves the problem of protruding ears completely. Results are very good, but the sooner in life the problem is corrected the better. Over the years, we have carried out Otoplasty procedures on children as young as 4 years old, and the results have been fantastic.
What Happens During the Procedure?
Otoplasty is a relatively simple procedure and takes approximately 1 hour to be performed. The best thing about this procedure is that there is no need for an overnight stay in hospital, and the majority of procedures can be carried out under local anaesthetic, except for paediatric procedures which are carried out under general anaesthetic. Our surgeons are specialists in their field and only use minimally invasive procedures. This ensures precise results and a faster healing time.
An incision will be made along the natural crease behind the ear. From here, the surgeon will carefully remove any excess cartilage that is causing the ear to stick out. We then pin back the ear so that it lies closer to the head. Once surgery is complete, we will apply a sterile dressing that will hold the cartilage in its new position. This will usually be removed after 7 days, and any pain can be controlled easily with medication. Because we work with great care, and only perform surgery to the back of the ear, there is no prominent scarring.
How Long does the Healing Process Take?
One of the best things about our Otoplasty procedure is the quick recovery time, and this is especially a blessing for parents of children undergoing the procedure.
Typically, most patients are up and about a day or two following surgery. However, full healing can take up to three months.
Resting with your head elevated for the first 3-5 days will help to reduce pain and swelling. You will also need to refrain from using shampoo on your hair until your dressing is removed. After washing your hair, lightly towel dry rather than wrapping a towel around your head as this can pull the ears forward. Dry behind your ears thoroughly after each shower, or use a hair dryer if the area is a little tender.
Burning, itchiness, tightness and puffiness are completely normal for the first few weeks following the procedure. If you experience any bleeding, discolouration or swelling, this should be reported to us immediately.
Speak to Us Today to Find Out More about Our Effective Treatments
You don’t need to suffer from the effects of protruding ears when our ear correction procedure can solve the problem easily and give you or your child renewed confidence.
If you would like to book an appointment or require further information to set up your consultation or for further information about Ear Correction Surgery, please do not hesitate to contact our private patient booking team via our online enquiry form.
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